Archive for June, 2010

By Patricia Cobleigh

Phoenix East Offers New Type Rating Programs

Phoenix East Aviation, Inc. (PEA) announced new jet type-rating courses offered in Airbus A-320 and Boeing B-737NG aircraft. The courses include ground school either through distance learning or in the classroom and simulator training. PEA will offer the courses for both initial and recurrent training.

The new courses will be offered through a partnership with AeroStar Training Services, and FAA Part 142 training facility. According to PEA, AeroStar’s facilities include state-of-the-art classrooms and training environments, highest level flight simulators, and the Virtual Flight Deck (VFD) training system. Students enrolled in the new programs will have unlimited access to the VFD 24/7.

Course instructors are all highly experienced Airbus and Boeing captains who have logged thousands of hours of flight time and student instruction. They excel in providing personalized training to each student, as well as assisting the student in completing the program rapidly.

By Mathew Everett – Guest Blogger

A recent two year agreement between the FAA, Insitu Inc., and the New Jersey National Guard seeks to study the integration of unmanned aircraft systems in the national airspace system.

Insitu Inc. is a subsidiary of Boeing and will be providing two ScanEagle aircraft and related hardware. Additionally, they will train FAA staff in piloting and maintaining these systems. The New Jersey National Guard will play host to the flight testing program which will take place in their Warren Grove Range.

Currently UAS operate under special certificates of authorization that are determined on a case-by-case basis. Most operations are segregated from other traffic as UAS are cleared to operate in restricted airspace.

The program, managed by the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center, will focus on UAS design, construction, and functionality with special emphasis on differences in handling UAS and manned aircraft by an air traffic control. With more than 1500 UAS currently in production and given their unique capabilities, it is important to develop guidelines for their safe integration into the national airspace system.

By Matthew Everett

Predator UAV in museum

In October of 2010, the first class of a new Air Force training program will begin. According to a June 9, 2010 article in Air Force Print News Today, the new undergraduate training program seeks to “institutionalize the remotely piloted aircraft field.” Active-duty Air Force Personnel may apply for selection on the January 2011 board starting summer of 2010.

Upon graduating from the program, the pilots will enter the 18X career field, which was established by the Air Force in October 2009 specifically for Remotely Piloted Aircraft operators. This career field requires a six year commitment and carries certain physiological and academic requirements, but provides the same incentive pay as the aviation career field.

Non-military personnel may take UAV training at the University of North Dakota campus in Grand Forks.